The major funding from Minderoo will allow Professor Rhonda Marriott and her team at Ngangk Yira to build on more than a decade of research that’s already brought about new maternity practices, innovate models of patient engagement and valuable health resources for Aboriginal families. 

“This partnership is a testament to our commitment to improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal families,” Professor Marriott said.  

“It is about continuing to strive for a healthcare system that respects and integrates cultural practices." 

The partnership will expand Ngangk Yira’s existing initiatives, such as perinatal assessment tool ‘Baby Coming You Ready’ and wrap-around maternal health program ICARE, as well as see the development of new Aboriginal health research programs and an expansion of the Ngangk Yira team. 

Minderoo Foundation CEO John Hartman said the partnership would ensure the maternal and child health system helped close the equity gap for First Nations children and families.  

“Minderoo’s vision is for all children in Australia to reach their full potential in thriving communities, and it is vital that First Nations children and their families can access the health system in culturally safe ways,” Mr Hartman said.   

“This has been an enduring focus of Minderoo since it was founded more than 20 years ago.  We deeply appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Ngangk Yira Institute for Change to tackle this important work together.”  

The collaboration will involve key stakeholders from across the health system, including the State Government’s South Metropolitan Health Service, Aboriginal community representatives and services offering pregnancy and early childhood care in the region.  

“This collaboration is a unique opportunity to bring together various stakeholders to create a healthcare system that truly serves the needs of Aboriginal families. It is about working together to make a real difference,” Professor Marriott said. 

The partnership aims to contribute to Minderoo’s Communities outcomes, which include ensuring young children are developmentally on track and experiencing strong wellbeing, empowering families and caregivers to foster their young child’s holistic development, and enabling communities to accelerate progress on the things that matter most to them.  

Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Deeks said there was much to be gained from the two organisations working together. 

“The outstanding work happening at Ngangk Yira goes to the heart of what we are striving for at Murdoch University – impactful and progressive research that makes a tangible difference to the society we serve,” Professor Deeks said. 

This new collaboration between Ngangk Yira and Minderoo will allow the Institute to resource programs of work which focus on culturally appropriate health care for Indigenous young people, their families and caregivers.

The grant will support the increased capacity of the Institute’s leadership team and program development, including the appointment of several key roles such as a Principal Research Fellow for the BCYR Program, Senior Research Fellow Systems and Policy, and Senior Research Fellow Evaluation Specialist. 

Additionally, the grant will fund the development and implementation of two new programs; ‘Bubba Here What Now’ to support families in the child’s first few years of life and ‘Maaman Baby Coming You Ready,’ which is focussed on preparing First Nations men for fatherhood.   

There is also renewed focus on impact measurement, evaluation, and learning. This includes the development of evaluation plans for all new projects, setting evaluation frameworks, and identifying evaluation capacity-building opportunities for early and mid-career researchers.  

“Our goal is to ensure that our programs are effective and sustainable. By focusing on evaluation and learning, we can continuously improve and adapt our strategies to meet the needs of Aboriginal families,” Professor Marriott said. 

This ambitious project represents a significant step forward in creating a culturally safe healthcare system for Aboriginal families in Western Australia, ensuring that their health and wellbeing are prioritized and respected. 

Learn more about the important work happening at the Ngangk Yira Institute for Change.